Yarn-winding apparatus



Sept. 19, 1939. s. MAFULTQN r-:r M .J 2,173,160

, YARN-WINDING APLPARTUS I Filed Nov. '23, 19:57 2 sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 19,` 1939. s. M. FuLToN Erm.. 2,173,160

YARN-WINDING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2 3, 19:57 2 shets-sneet 2 Patented Sept. 19', 1939 YARN-uncino APPARATUS Stephen Miller Fulton and William Harry Kimpton, Spondon, near Derby, England, assignors to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application November 23, 1937, Serial No. 176,006 In Great Britain December 1, 1936 19 Claims.

The invention relates to yarn-winding apparatus of the type in which completed pirns, cops, spools or like packages (hereinafter referred to for brevity as pirns) are automatically removed from a machine and replaced by fresh package supports on which the winding of new pirns continues, the automatic pim-replacing enabling such machines to run for long periods without attention.

It is an object of the invention so to improve such machines that they require still less attention.

According to the invention there is incorporated in a pim-winding machine of the type referred to a counting device adapted to be actuated at each pim-winding operation, and means controlled by the counting device and adapted automatically to render the pim-replacing mechanism inoperative after a predetermined number 20 of pirns have been wound. In this manner the pirn-replacing operation may be caused to stop before the quantity ofyarn on a supply package has become so depleted as to be insuftcient to complete a further pirn, with the result that careful checking of the completed pirns and/or the yarn supply package is rendered unnecessary. In addition, the machine operative is. enabled to attend to a greater number of spindles.

The counting device may with advantage be operated by the pirn-replacing mechanism, a predetermined numberof pirn replacements by the mechanism causing the device to operate to p render the mechanism inoperative.

The counting device may comprise a rotatable member and driving vmeans for rotating the member, the driving means being caused by the pim-replacing mechanism to rotate the rotatable member through part of a revolution for each complete motion of the pim-replacing mechanism. After rotating in this manner through a predetermined angle .(i. e. after a predetermined number of pim replacements have been eiected) the rotatable member may bring about the operation of the means for rendering the pim-replacing mechanism inoperative.

The rotatable member may be a ratchet wheel adapted to be driven through part of a revolution by a pawl operated once for each complete motion of the pini-replacing mechanism. Where the pirn-replacing mechanism comprises a replenishing member adapted to move at intervals to place an empty package support in winding position, the pawl or other driving means may conveniently be actuated by such replenishing member.

'I'he device according to the invention may serve to stop the drive to the pim-replacing mechanism so as to render such mechanism inoperative after the predetermined number of pirns have been wound. Thus, the device may operate a stop motion, or move a beltfrom a fast to a loose pulley to step the drive, or may disengage the drive as by uncoupling a clutch. Where the pim-replacing mechanism is coupled to a source of power between each pirn-winding operation and thus set into motion to bring about pirn replacement, the device according to the invention may operate to prevent such coupling after the predetermined number of pirns have been wound.

A convenient means 'for stopping the drive to the pim-replacing mechanism comprises a latch controlled by the counting device and adapted to be moved by the device from an inoperative to an operative position to -stop the drive after the predetermined number of pirns have been wound. 'I'he rotation of the rotatable member through a predetermined angle may cause the latch to be moved from an inoperative into the operative position and where the latch is remote from the rotatable member lever or like mechanism may connect the latch with the member.

The countingdevice according tothe invention may be formed as a self-contained mechanism comprising the rotatable member, means for forming a driving connection between the pirn-replacing mechanism and the rotatable member and adapted to rotater the member through part of a revolution for each complete motion of the pim-replacing mechanism, stopping means for rendering the pirn-replacing mechanism inoperative, and means forming a connection between the rotatable member and the stopping means and adapted to actuate the stopping means on rotation of the rotatable member through an angle corresponding to a predetermined number of pirn-replacing motions. The device Ymay comprise in addition means for permitting manual setting of the rotatable member in position to allow of the predetermined number of pirns to be wound before the actuation of the stopping means, `and means co-operating with the manually operated means for visually indicating the number of the pirns to be wound. Thus, a numbered device such as a disc or like member may be arranged to cooperate with the vmanually operated means to give visual indication of the number of pirns to be wound.

'Ihe apparatus according to the invention may be incorporated in automatic pim-winding machines of the type in which the pirns being Wound are supported by spindles which pass through the pirn tubes or supports, and of the spindleless type, i. e., in which the pirns are supported by members which engage the ends of the pim tubes, the apparatus being particularly suitable for use in machines in which a single unit of pim-replacing mechanism serves to replace a plurality of pirns at one time, a single counting device according to the invention being capable of controlling such unit and consequently of determining the total number of pirns to be replaced thereby.

By way of example a form of apparatus according to the invention applied to an automatic two-spindle pirn-winding machine described in U. S. application S. No. 140,630 filed May 4, 1937, will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a part cross-sectional end elevation of suiiicient of the pim-winding machine to illustrate the application of the invention thereto;

Fig. 2 is a part cross-sectional end elevation of the lower part of the machine viewed from the right in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of part of the mechanism of Fig. 1 shown in larger scale and viewed along the line 3-3 of Fig. 5;

Figa is a front elevation of a further part of the mechanism of Fig. 1 shown in larger scale and viewed along the line 4 4 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 5 is a plan of the details of Fig. 1 shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring to Fig. 1 the pirn-winding machine is of the well known type which comprises a gear box 6, clutch-driven Winding spindles l, and a starting rod 8 in association with each spindle. For simplicity of illustration one spindle I only is shown and the associated yarn traversing mechanism is omitted. During winding yarn is traversed to and fro along part of the length of the pirn tube 9, the field of the traverse moving gradually from the base to the tip of the tube. On completion of the pirn stop mechanism operates to rotate the starting rod 8 to the inoperative position so as to bring the spindles to rest, all in the manner well known to those skilled in the pim-winding art.

On stoppage of the Winding spindles 'i the completed pirns are automatically ejected from the spindles and replaced by fresh pirn tubes 5 on which the Winding of new pirns continues, in the manner described in detail in the above-mentioned application, and briefly,- as follows:

A sleeve II encircling the spindle 'i at a point between the base of the tube 9 and the gear box 3 is drawn along the spindle I towards its tip to eject the completed pirn therefrom by a toothed rod I2 which'is slidably mounted in a sleeve I3 extending between the walls Ill, I5 of the machine frame, the rod being driven by a pinion IB which engages the teeth of the rod. The ejected pirn falls into a chute I 0 leading to a collecting box or like container.

The entry of the rod I2 into the sleeve I3 causes a carriage I1 to be moved from a magazine (not shown) to a point opposite to the end of the now empty spindle 1, where a fresh pirn tube 9 carried by the carriage is pushed on to the spindle into Winding position by a member I8, the sleeve Il having been retracted to the position shown in the drawings, in the meantime, by reversal of the direction of rotation of the pinion I6. The member I8 is connected by an arm (not shown) to a toothed replenishing rod I9 slidably mounted in a sleeve 20 and driven by a pinion 2I engaging the teeth of the rod. Reversal of the rotation of the pinion 2| after the replenishing of the spindle l with the fresh pirn tube 3 causes the member I8 to be retracted by the replenishing rod I9 to the position shown in the drawings in readiness for further operation when required.

The pinions I6, 2| controlling the pirn-ejecting and spindle-replenishing rods I2, I9 are mounted on shafts 23, 24 which are driven by chains 25, 26 engaging sprockets (not shown) on the shafts. The chains 25, 25 are driven, respectively, by sprockets 2l, 28 mounted on shafts 28, 30. Situated beneath the sprockets 2l, 28 is a drum cam 32 freely mounted on a shaft 33. The surface of thecam 32 is formed with two grooves 3d, 35 in which are engaged pins 36 outstanding from two levers 31, 38. 'I'he levers 3l, 38 engage by pin-and-slot connections, arms 39, l0 secured, respectively, to the shafts 28, 30. In this manner rotation of the cam 32 brings about swinging of the levers 3l, 33, first in one direction and then in the other, and, consequent operations of the toothed rods I2, i8 for the purposes described above.

The rotation of the cam 32 at the desired intervals is effected as follows:

Fixed to the shaft 33 closely adjacent to the right-hand end of the cam 32 is a disc l2 (see Figs. l and 2) having a plurality of semi-circular notches 33 formed on its periphery. The shaft 33 is driven by worm and wheel gearing fill, and the disc l2 thus rotates continuously.

A dog i5 freely pivoted on the end of the cam 32 normally rides idly on the periphery of the disc l2 and drops into and pulls out of the notches i3 as the disc rotates, the cam 32 remaining stationary on the rotating shaft 33. The dog l5 is under the control of a catch i8 also pivoted on the end of the cam 32 and urged by a spring iii into anti-clockwise rotation (as seen in Fig. 2) so as to engage the dog l5 and lock it in any notch 53 in order to couple the disc 52 with the cam 32, and thus initiate the pirn-ejecting and spindle-replenishing operation described above.

During Winding, however, the catch i6 is restrained from dog-locking movement by a latch 38 pivoted on a spindle cl3. The latch i3 is connected by a chain 58 to the end of a pin 52 slidably mounted in guides 53 formed at the head of a lever 55 which is pivoted on a stub shaft 55 outstanding from the wall I5 of the machine frame (see Figs. 1, 4 and 5). The chain 50 passes through a stili` guiding pipe 5S which is secured to the machine frame at its ends by brackets 5l and 5l'.

The end of the pin 52 is attened to form a head 58, and a compression spring 59 encircles the pin between the head 58 and the guide 53. It will thus be apparent that when the lever 511 is held with its head 53 near to the head 5B of the pin 52 the spring 59 is compressed and subjects the chain 50 to tension with the result that the chain 58 forms a yieldable connection between the latch 48 and the lever 5l, and tends to rotate the latch clockwise about its pivot 49 and out of engagement with the catch 46. Conversely, when the lever 54 is freed to assume the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the tension in the spring 59 and chain 58 is relieved, and the latch 48 remains in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. During the normal winding operation of the machine, however, the spring 59 and chain 50 are maintained under tension, in a manner to be described later.

The tendency for the latch 48 to rotate under the iniluence of the tension in the chain 58 and thus free the catch 46 is restrained by the heads 68 of pivoted fingers 62, 63 (see Fig. 2), each of which is connected at 64 to a vertical rod 65 pivoted -at its upper end to an arm 66 fixed to one of the spindle starting rods 8. On rotation of the starting rods 8 (clockwise as seen'in Fig 2) to stop their respective spindles 1 on completion of the pirns the fingers 62, 63 are rotated about their pivots and free the latch 48 for rotation, under the influence .of the tension in the chain 50, out of contact with the catch 46 to initiate the pim-replacing operation described above.

If the two pirns are completed simultaneously both startingr rods 8 rotate at the same time to stop the spindles 1 and move'the respective ngers 62, 63 out of contact with the latchl 48 which is thereupon freed to rotate from contact with the catch 46. If, however, one pirn is completed before the other, only the finger 62 or 63 in association with the completed pirn is moved out of engagement with the latch 48, the finger in association with the pirn still winding remaining in the latch-pressing position until the latter pirn is completed, when the finger moves and allows the latch to rotate from catch-engaging position.

` In this manner danger of the drive to the pirnreplacing mechanism being established before a pin is completed, is avoided.

On completion of the pim-replacing operation the continued rotation of the drum cam 32 brings a. cam 61 formed at the end of the drum cam into engagement with a tappet lever 68 which is freely pivoted at 69 to the machine frame. The tappet levery 88 is pushed upwardly by the cam and in so moving contacts with a horizontal bar 18 and pushes it into engagement with the lower ends of the two vertical rods 65 which are thereupon moved upwardly to restart the winding spindles through starting rod 8. The bar 10 is supported in horizontal position by a pivoted arm 1I. The

upward movement of the vertical rods causes the iingers 62, 63 to rotate about their pivots into engagement with the latch 48 which is thus depressed, against the tension in the chain 58, into the path of the catch 46. The catch is thereupon disengaged from contact with the dog 45 and the drive to the drum cam 32 is uncoupled.

The tension in the spring 59 and chain 50 is released by a counting device after a predetermined number of pirn-ejecting and spindle-replenishing operations, so as to render the drum cam 32 inoperative, in the following manner:

The head of the lever 54 (Figs. 4 and 5) is formed with a projecting member 12 which bears against the periphery of a disc 13 xed on a rotatable shaft 14, the disc being partly cut away at 15 in a manner such that the head of the lever 54 can be held by the periphery of the disc either close to the head 58 of the pin 52 so as to compress the spring 59, or remote from the head 58 (as shown in Fig. 4) so as to release the pressure in the spring and consequently the tension in the chain 50, depending on which part of the periphery of the disc is in contact with th projecting member 12.

The shaft 14 passes through the wall I5 and has secured thereto at the side of the wall remot from the disc 13 a toothed ratchet wheel 16 (Figs. 3 and 5) which is driven intermittently by a pawl 11 supported at the end of a lever 18 disposed between the wall I5 and the ratchetwheel 16, and adapted for free rotation about the shaft 14. The lever 18 is caused to oscillate to operate the pawly by a push rod 19 mounted in guides and formed at its lower end with a cam portion 82.

lThe push rod is arranged so that the cam portion 82 projects across the end of the sleeve 20,

and a ram 83, formed on the end of the toothed spindle-replenishing rod I9, engages the cam and thereby pushes the rod and actuates the pawl on each return stroke of the toothed rod I9 after the replenishing of the associated spindle 1 with a fresh pirn. In this manner the ratchet wheel 16, and consequently the disc 13, are rotated through a predetermined angle for each completed pirn-ejecting and spindle-replenishing operation. l

The shaft 14 is furnished with a hand-controlling knob 84 by which the disc 13 can be rotated clockwise and set in any desired position relatively to the projection 12 at the head of the lever 54. In order to wind a predetermined number of pirns the disc 13 is rotated until the pro-A jection 12 at the head of the lever 54 bears against the notched portion of the periphery of the disc at the desired number of notches 85 away from the cut-away portion 15 corresponding to the predetermined number of pirn-ejecting and spindlereplenishing operations to take place before the rotation of the disc causes it to present its cutaway portion 15 to the projection 12 and thus free the lever 54 for clockwise rotation about the shaft 55 to release the tension in the spring 59 and chain 50. After'the initial setting by hand the disc 13 is driven by the ratchet wheel 16 in the manner described above until the desired number of pirn-ejecting and spindle-replenishing operations have been effected, when the4 tension in the chain 58 is automatically released and the latch 48 Acaused to remain in catch-engaging position to prevent further operation of the cam 32, irrespective of the positions of the ngers 62, 63.

The periphery of the disc 13 is formed with measured notches 85 each adapted to receive the projection 12 and corresponding in extent to the angle of movement of the ratchet wheel 16 due to one complete pirn-ejecting and spindle-replenishing motion. In this manner exact setting of the disc relatively to the projection 12 is facilitated. .In order to render the disc setting more precise the notches 85 may be numbered in accordance with the number of pirn-ejecting and spindle-replenishing operations which eachnotch represents. v

A convenient numbering arrangement is shown in the drawings, and comprises a circular plate 86 formed. n'ear its edge with numbers corresponding with the discV notches 85, the plate being secured to the shaft 14 immediately behind a face-plate 81 of the machine. The face-plate 81 is formed with a small window or aperture 88 through which the plate numbers may be seen. Thus to set the disc 13 to permit the desired number of pirn-ejecting and spindle-replenishing operations to be eiected before the latch 48 becomes inoperative it is merely necessary to rotate the hand-controlling knob 84 until the desired number appears at the aperture 88. The counting mechanism then needs no further attention until the required number of pirns have been wound. The portion of the disc 13 following the cut-away portion 15 is shaped so as to merge smoothly towards the notched portion in order to facilitate the re-setting of the disc.

The pirn counting mechanism according to the invention may be rendered inoperative by a hand lever 89 pivoted on the shaft 55 and formed with a at projecting portion S0. On rotation of the lever 89 clockwise about the shaft 55 the portion 90 is caused to strike the head 58 of the pin 52 and push the pin to the right (as seen in Figs. 4 and 5) to release the tension in the chain 50. The effect of the movement of the hand lever 89 is thus the same as if the lever 54 had reached the cut-away portion 15 of the disc 13, and the latch 48 remains in catch-engaging position after the rotation of the starting rods 8 to stop the winding spindles 1. The hand lever 89 may be locked in the chain tension-relieving position.

Having described our invention what we desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pirn winding apparatus incorporating mechanism for automatically doiiing a completed pirn and donning an empty tube upon which the winding of a new pirn continues, driving means for said mechanism, a counting device adapted to be actuated by said mechanism at each dofng and donning operation, and means controlled by the counting device and adapted automatically to render the driving means for the doiiing and donning mechanism inoperative after a predetermined number of pirns have been wound.

2. In a pirn winding apparatus incorporating mechanism for automatically doiflng a completed pirn and donning an empty tube upon which the winding of a new pirn continues, drivingv means for said mechanism, a counting device adapted to be actuated by said mechanism at each doiiing and donning operation, means controlled by the counting device and adapted automatically to render the driving means for the doing and donning mechanism inoperative after a predetermined number ofV pirns have been wound, and hand controlled means for the counting device to allow of an initial setting of the apparatus to any predetermined number of pirns that can be wound before the driving means for the domng and donning mechanism is rendered inoperative.

3. In a pirn winding apparatus incorporating mechanism for automatically dofling a completed pirn and donning an empty tube upon which the winding of a new pirn continues, driving means for said mechanism, a counting device adapted to be actuated by said mechanism at each doiling and donning operation, means controlled by the counting device and adapted automatically to render the driving means for the doing and donning mechanism inoperative after a predetermined number of pirns have been wound, hand controlled means for the counting device to allow of an initial setting of the apparatus to any predetermined number of pirns that can be wound before the cloning and donning mechanism is rendered inoperative, and means co-operating with the hand controlled means for visually indicating the number of pirns to be wound before the doing and donning mechanism is rendered inoperative.

4. In a pirn winding apparatus incorporating mechanism for automatically doiiing a completed' pirn and donning an empty tube upon which the winding of a new pirn continues, driving means for said mechanism, a member for effecting the donning of an empty tube, a counting device adapted to be actuated bymovement of said donning member at each doing and donning operation, and means conicllee'bythe counting device and adapted automatically to render the driving means for the doiling and donning mechanism inoperative after a predetermined number of pirns have been wound.

5. In a pirn winding apparatus incorporating mechanism for automatically dofling a completed pirn and donning an empty tube upon which the winding of a. new pirn continues, driving means for said mechanism, a member for effecting the donning of an empty tube, a counting deviceL adapted to be actuated by movement of the donning member at each doiiing and donning operation, said counting device comprising a rotatable member, and driving means for rotating said rotatable member, the latter driving means being caused by the donning member to rotate the rotatable member through part of a revolution for eachcomplete motion of the donning member, and means controlled by the counting device and adapted automatically to render the driving means for the doiling and donning mech` anism inoperative after a predetermined number of pirns have been wound.

6. In a pirn winding apparatus incorporating mechanism for automatically cloning a completed pirn and donning an empty tube upon which the` winding of a new pirn continues, driving means for said mechanism, a member for effecting the donning of an empty tube, a counting device adapted to be actuated by movement of the don,

ning member at each dofiing and donning operation, said counting device comprising a ratchet wheel and a pawl for rotating the wheel, said pawl being caused by the donning member to rotate the ratchet wheel through part of a revolution for each complete motion of the donning' member, and means controlled by the counting device and adapted automatically to render the driving means for the doiing and donning mechanism inoperative after a predetermined number .4o

of pirns have been wound.

'1. In a pirn winding apparatus incorporating mechanism for automatically doing a completed pirn and donning an empty tube upon which the winding of a new pirn continues, driving means for said mechanism, means for coupling the dofng and donning mechanism with the driving means between each pirn winding operation to bring about the dofling and donning operation,

a counting device adapted to be actuated by said', 50

dofiing and donning mechanism at each dofiing and donning operation and means controlled by the counting device to prevent automatically such coupling after a predetermined number of pirns have been wound.

8. In a plrn winding apparatus incorporating mechanism for automatically dofiing a completed plrn and donning an empty tube upon which the winding of a new pirn continues, driving means for said mechanism, means for coupling the doif-- ,pim and donning an empty tube upon which the ,75

winding of a new pirn continues, driving means for said mechanism, means for coupling the dofhng and donning mechanism with said driving means between each pirn winding operation to bring about the doing and donning operation, a member for effecting the donning of an empty tube, a counting device adapted to be actuated by movement of the donning member at each dofiing and donning operation, said counting device comprising a rotatable member and driving means for rotating said member, the latter driving means being caused by the donning member to rotate the rotatable member through a predetermined angle for each complete motion of the donning member, and means controlled by the counting device comprising a latch adapted to be moved by the rotation of the rotatable member through said predetermined-angle into operative position to prevent the coupling of the doing and donning mechanism with the driving means therefor after a predetermined number of pirns have been wound.

10; In a pirn winding apparatus incorporating mechanism for automatically dofling a completed pirn and donning an empty tube upon which the winding of a new pirn continues, driving means for said mechanism, means for coupling the doffing and donning mechanism with said driving means between each pirn winding operation to bring about the dofling and donning operation, a member for effecting the donning of an empty tube, a counting device adapted to be actuated by movement of the donning member at each doiiing and donning operation, said counting device comprising a rotatable member and driving means for rotating said member, the latter driving means being caused by the donning member to rotate the rotatable member through a predetermined angle for each complete motion of the donning member, and means controlled by thev counting device comprising a latch remote from the rotatable member and a lever controlled by the rotatable member adapted to bring about the Winding lof a new pirn continues, driving means for said mechanism, means for coupling the doing and donning mechanism with said driving means between each pirn winding operation to bring about the doilng and donning operation, a member for effecting the donning of an empty tube, a counting device adapted to be actuated by movement of the donning member at each doiiing and donning operation, said counting device comprising a rotatable member and driving means for rotating said member, the latter driving means being caused by the donning member to rotate the rotatable member through a predetermined angle for each complete motion of the donning member, and means controlled by the counting device comprising a latch remote from the rotatable member, a lever controlled by the rotatable member, a member connecting the latch with the lever, a spring cooperating with the connecting member and the lever to render the connecting member yieldable, while, maintaining such member at tension, and thereby tending to hold the latch in an inoperative position during the rotation of the rotatable member through the predetermined angle, and means adapted on rotation of the rotatable member through the predetermined angle to free the lever for tensionrelieving movement so as to permit the latch to move into operative position to prevent the coupling of the doing and donning mechanism with the driving means therefor, after a predetermined number of pirns have been wound.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the member connecting the latch with the lever is a chain.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11, comprising a pivoted nger under the control of the winding spindle starting rod of the pim winding apparatus, said nger being rotated by the spindle starting movement of the rod and thereby caused to press the latch against the tension in the yieldable connecting member into operative position 4to prevent the coupling of the dofiing and donning mechanism with the driving means therefor, and being rotated in the reverse direction by the spindle-stopping movement of the rod,

so as to permit th'e latch to assume an inoperative position under the influence of the tension in the yieldable connecting member, in order to allow the coupling to be effected during the pro- Aduction of the predetermined number of pirns,

the rotatable member, and having part of its periphery cut away, said disc being disposed in contact with the lever in a manner such that the uncut periphery of the disc holds the lever in a position in which the connecting member is held at tension and the cut part of the periphery freesY the lever for movement into tension-relieving position when the rotation of the rotatable member causes the disc to present the cut-away part to the lever.

. `15. In a pirn winding apparatus incorporating mechanism for automatically doiiing a completed pirn and donning an empty tube upon which the winding of a new pim continues, driving means for said mechanism, means for coupling the dolfing and donning mechanism with said driving means between each pi'rn winding operation to bring about the dong and donning operation, a member for eecting the donning of an empty tube, a counting device adapted to be actuated by movement of the donning member at each doffing and donning operation, said counting device comprising a rotatable Vmember and driving means for rotating said member, said latter driving means being caused by the donning member to rotate the rotatable member through a predetermined angle for each complete motion of the donning member, means controlled by the counting device for preventing coupling of the doiing and donning mechanism with the driving means therefor, after a predetermined number of pirns have been wound, said means comprising a latch remote from the rotatable member, a lever controlled by the rotatable member and adapted by the rotation of such member through the predetermined angle to bring about the movement of the latch into operative position to prevent the coupling between the donning and doffing mechanism and the driving means therefor, a member connecting the latch with the lever, a`

spring co-operating with the connecting mem' ber and the lever to render the connecting member yieldable while maintaining such member at tension, and thereby tending to hold the latch in inoperative position during the rotation of the rotatable member through the predetermined angle, and means adapted on rotation of the rotatable member through the predetermined angle to free the lever for tension-relieving movement so as to permit the latch to move into said operative position, comprising a rotatable disc in driving engagement with the rotatable member and having part of its periphery cut away, said disc being disposed in contact with the lever in a manner such that the uncut periphery of the disc holds the lever in a position in which the connecting member is held at tension and the cutaway part of the periphery frees the lever for movement into tension-relieving position when the rotation of the rotatable member causes the disc to present the cut-away part to the lever, and hand-controlled means for the counting device to allow of an initial setting of the mechanism to any predetermined number of pirns that can be wound before the dofiing and donning mechanism is rendered inoperative, comprising means for manually rotating the disc to set the cut part of its periphery in a position relatively to the lever such that the donningA member can complete a predetermined number of complete motions before the rotation of the rotatable member causes the disc to present the cut-away part of its periphery to the lever.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the uncut part of the periphery oi the disc is formed with notches, each corresponding in extent to the angle of movement of the disc due to one complete dofling and donning operation.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a numbered plate in driving engagement with the disc and adapted to indicate the position of the cut-away part of the periphery of the disc relative to the lever and the number of dofiing and donning operations which Will be effected before the dofilng and donning mechanism is rendered inoperative.

18. A counting device for use in pirn winding apparatus incorporating mechanism for automatically doiling a completed pirn and donning an empty tube upon which the winding of a new pirn continues, and stopping means for rendering such mechanism inoperative, said counting device comprising a rotatable member, driving means for the rotatable member and adapted to be operated by the dolng and donning mechanism in a manner such that the driving means rotates the rotatable member through part of a revolution for each complete motion of the doiing and donning mechanism, and means forming a connection between the rotatable member andthe stopping means and adapted tovoperate said stopping means on rotation of the rotatable member through an angle corresponding to a. predetermined number oi.' dofiing and donning operations.

19. A counting device according to claim 18, comprising means for permitting manual setting of the rotatable member in position to allow of a predetermined number of pirns to be wound before the actuation of the stopping means, and means co-operating with said manually-operated means for visually indicating the number of said pirns to be wound.

STEPHEN MILLER FULTON. WILLIAM HARRY KIMPTON. 

